And all you create

After much discussion I have decided to compile a list of what I considered to be “perfect” albums. Now keep in mind that these all time best list are ultimately an exercise in interesting conversation and nothing more.
1) Darkside Of the Moon –Pink Floyd I think my friend David says it with far more elegance than I could about how fantastic this album is. It is a seamless soundscape that traverses a whole range musical moods. My entire conception of what an album should be was born from my first encounter with that album. There is regular, if not complete, unity between the lyrics of the songs and the underlying accompanying music of each track fits well together. However, the album is never repetitive. The musicianship is solid, but maybe not masterful at all stages, and the use of sampling and effects is creative and purposeful. I have yet to hear an album where all songs sound like they belong together. I can easily imagine "Rocky Racoon" on Abbey Road, "Taxman" on the White Album and "Norwegian Wood" on Let it Be. However, "Breathe", "Any Color You Like", "Us and Them", "Brain Damage" and "Eclipse" do not belong on any album other than Darkside.
2) Pet Sounds- The Beach Boys If you have never listened to this record I could understand a dismissive scoff at me championing this record. I would to if my knowledge of the beach boys was limited to Kokomo and Endless summer, they seem a band that is forever incapable of growth and ambition but Pet Sounds makes a person totally revaluate that thought. It’s a bittersweet experience because they never make a record that is this good again, but what an album it is. It could be best described as a teenagers ode to love, and that might sound like I am diminishing its accomplishment but believe me I’m not. Each song is layered by intricate delicate music and features some of the finest, haunting vocals ever placed on vinyl. The joy is infectious and Pet Sounds succeeds in reminding us that pop music can aspire to more.
3) Astral Weeks- Van Morrison What impresses me the most about astral weeks is the texture of sounds that are simultaneously invoked, a song like Madame George can be part Jazz, folk, and a hint of the blues. The voice and lyrics carry a life time behind them and again are equal parts nostalgic, somber, joyful, and ecstatic. It’s a fantastic collection of songs that I think successfully encompass the range of feelings a person will encounter in a lifetime. It allows is filled with a rich sense of poetry, and its poetic in a way that feels natural and mature. What can you say really about this album, other than its perfect.
4. Back in Black- AC/DC it might be strange putting AC/DC in the pantheon of perfection, but I feel that while yes lyrically they are a band possessed by a puerile trashy spirit that shouldn’t exclude any talk of their artistic achievements. Rock music doesn’t always have to be deep. Astral weeks is “deep” in an abstract sense, the doors try to be “deep” and it comes off as pretentious. Back in Black, is an album that knows sometimes life doesn’t need to be serious; sometime life is about rocking out, balls thrust out with a bottle of Jack Daniels in hand. Back in black is the tightest record ac/dc ever made, it’s all thriller no filler as the expression goes.
5. Rumours – Fleetwood Mac I think it’s easy to dismiss this record as great due to the ubiquitousness of the songs and the fact that it sold so much; but dismissing it entirely because of those facts would be a great disservice. It’s amazing that despite all the great turmoil that was going on in the personal lives of Fleetwood mac that professionally they were able to put that aside and just produce a great album. A lot of the songs touch on the sort of sadness at the end of a relationship but remain hopeful about the future. Never going back again is a great example of this and at two minutes perfectly encompasses the feelings a person has after a break up.